Speakers/Events

26th February 2019 ~ Malcolm Nelson – 40 Years of Catching Smugglers.
Malcolm’s talk will take us through 40 years of working for HM Customs & Excise. Sometimes exciting, sometimes sad, sometimes hilarious, but always supremely interesting. He will lift the lid on some of the secrets of an occupation that has always held an air of mystery and will answer many of the questions you ask yourselves, like, ‘just how do they decide who to stop’

26th March2019 ~ Dr. Robert Cruthers – Doctor at Sea.
Robert’s talk centres on his experiences during a three-year spell as ships surgeon supporting the Royal Navy. The fee for his talk will be donated to his chosen charity Orbis UK. (Orbis Charitable Trust, known as Orbis UK, is based in the UK and is affiliated to Orbis International. Orbis International is a nonprofit global development organization dedicated to saving sight and transforming lives. Their mission is to preserve and restore sight by strengthening the capacity of local institutions in their efforts to prevent and treat blindness).

On entry Warm Mulled wine or Orange juice was available, as well as drinks from the bar, and everyone chatted, caught up with thelatest family news etc.

Come 1pm all were seated at their allocated table and the Chairman (Mike Widdup, a Northern lad) welcomed one and all to partake of the excellent 3-course lunch.
Mike gave a short monologue of the ‘Xmas Hats’ just to get the lunch under way.

Amongst the seated guests were also the after dinner ‘entertainment’ Greensand Ridge Folk Duo, Hugh & Lesley Loughlin and at coffee time they gave us a selection of ‘Songs for Winter’ – Fire & Wine, On the Shelf (writte by Lesley herself!), Santa Baby, Fairytale of New York, A Real British Christmas, The Hurdy-Gurdy Man and Baby It’s Cold Outside.
In addition the guests sang along to a Christmas Meddley of ‘Let it it Snow’ and ‘Winter Wonderland’.

We all enjoyed this immensely and showed our appreciation in the normal way.

Guests then wended their way home having enjoyed the occasion and looking forward to Ladies Summer Lunch in July next year.

23rd October 2018 – Visit to London Postal Museum; see Gallery
The coach outing to the Postal Museum in central London, brilliantly arranged by our Events Secretary David Smith, was a great success. We enjoyed a thrilling ride through the hidden tunnels beneath the streets of the city on the disused Mail Rail network and afterwards, still below ground, had great fun playing around with the added attractions of the Mail Rail museum’s hands-on exhibits – and viewing those covering its 100 years history. Then onwards to a wander round the nearby award-winning Postal Museum and archives revealing five centuries of history through the eyes of its iconic postal service. All followed by a trip to Kennedy’s Restaurant in fashionable Clerkenwell for a fish and chips meal.

Thanks also to our ‘Blue badge’ London guide, this was a very enjoyable outing.